Evan Silva

Matchups

Matchups: Guessing Game Plans

Much is being made of Sam Bradford as a fantasy fill-in for Tom Brady, Michael Vick, and Ben Roethlisberger owners. It's not a bad idea, but this is more likely to be the Steven Jackson show. Especially against a Lions team that ranks fifth in sacks, the Rams won't risk their future by letting Bradford drop back 40 times if they can help it. Detroit ranks 25th against the run, is letting up 4.8 YPC, and has yielded the third most rushing scores in the NFL. S-Jax confirmed his previously injured groin is behind him by racking up 25 touches in Week 4, and subsequently not appearing on the Rams' post-game injury list. Perhaps most promisingly, Jackson got stronger as the game went on, rushing 10 times for 28 yards in the first three quarters and 12-for-42 in the final frame.

Bradford is still a worthwhile play. His yardage totals have jumped in three straight weeks, putting him on pace for one of the greatest rookie QB seasons in history. Across the NFL, only the Jags allow more yards per pass attempt than the Lions, so Bradford doesn't require 40 throws for a big game. ... Mark Clayton is a top-nine fantasy wideout at the quarter point. His 41 targets are 10 more than the next Ram (Danny Amendola) and sixth in all of football. He's a high-end WR2 at Detroit. ... Amendola is playing 51.2 percent of St. Louis' offensive snaps. Brandon Gibson is at 87.8 percent since Week 2. Going for 50 yards and a touchdown compared to Amendola's scoreless 46 yards in Week 4, Gibson is the better sleeper if Laurent Robinson (foot) doesn't start.

Shaun Hill has racked up yards in Detroit's pass-first offense, topping 330 in 2-of-3 starts. He now faces a Rams team that hasn't allowed more than 17 points yet, with the pass defense emerging as a strength. It's allowed three passing TDs in four games, letting up just 6.8 yards per throw. Bradford and Kevin Kolb are preferable plays. ... Jahvid Best is more likely to be the game plan's focus. The Rams' glaring weakness is still on the ground (4.6 YPC, NFC-most six 20-plus yard rushes allowed). Best is also noticeably faster on turf, and the stats support it. He's averaged 7.74 yards-per on 35 touches in games at Ford Field and the Metrodome, but just 3.33 yards on 36 touches at Soldier and Lambeau Fields. Best returns to the home turf -- literally -- on Sunday.

Calvin Johnson catapulted himself to 11th in the fantasy receiver ranks with a dominant, two-TD effort against the Packers in Week 4. Megatron roasted 2009 Defensive POY Charles Woodson all over the field, and his outlook further improves with Nate Burleson (ankle) due back. Johnson will now be harder to double team. ... Holding John Carlson to one catch for 15 yards last Sunday, the Rams have been stingy against tight ends. No TE has scored on them, and only Chris Cooley has topped 50 yards (he had 53 in Week 3). Feel free to use Tony Scheffler (concussion) if he plays, but don't chase Brandon Pettigrew's fluky receptions run. Burleson's return lessens Pettigrew's passing-game role, and he'll be on the line blocking if Best is leaned on heavily, as expected.

Chicago @ Carolina

Jay Cutler's (concussion) first career missed start is a death knell for Bears skill players. 39-year-old Todd Collins will start his first game since 2007, and just his fourth in the last nine years. Behind an offensive line that surrendered 10 Week 4 sacks, Collins won't get the ball downfield to Johnny Knox. It's not a bad idea to insert Carolina's fantasy defense if you're into week-to-week streaming. Collins, a weak-armed game manager, is a statue in the pocket and egg-beater pass waiting to happen. ... Panthers top CB Chris Gamble will likely be assigned to Devin Hester for most of Sunday. Having topped 17 yards in 1-of-4 games this season and three catches once since Week 11 of 2009, Hester belongs on fantasy benches. The receiver experiment needs to end soon.

Greg Olsen is similarly struggling, having topped 39 yards once this season. Like any Martz tight end, Olsen is totally dependent on touchdowns to make fantasy noise. He won't make any with Collins at quarterback. ... Thanks to superb play from thumping MLB Dan Connor and always-awesome WLB Jon Beason, Carolina is allowing the fifth fewest yards per carry (3.3) in football. The Panthers' run defense turnaround is for real. Matt Forte has yet to top 3.0 yards per carry in a single game this year, so he'll have to catch lots of check-downs from Collins for a productive day.

The Panthers' game plan is easy to guess, because there's only one thing they do well -- run. As noted by Pro Football Focus, RT Geoff Schwartz was particularly dominant in a Week 4 game that saw DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart total 176 yards and two TDs, mauling Saints LE Alex Brown all day. Bears LE Israel Idonije has played the run better than Brown, but not by a ton. Look for Williams to be the focal point as Chicago's run defense rank continues to fall. It was No. 1 entering Week 4, and is now No. 6. ... Stewart is an awesome talent, but his 55-yard touchdown reception last Sunday was fluky, coming on a blown coverage. It was also just his third catch in four weeks. J-Stew hasn't topped 10 touches yet, and needs more work to be used with confidence.

Outside of dump-offs to Williams -- and extremely rare ones to Stewart -- the Panthers' passing game is a fantasy dump with Steve Smith (high ankle sprain) out through the Week 6 bye. Not only will the game plan be run-first, Nos. 2-4 receivers David Gettis, Brandon LaFell, and Dwayne Jarrett combined for eight targets in Week 4, generating 38 yards. Jarrett is now a free agent. ... Jimmy Clausen will get better by the week -- he didn't turn the ball over last Sunday after losing two fumbles and throwing a pick in Week 3 -- but it's a process. He's a weak bet to top 180 yards in any game going forward.

Tampa Bay @ Cincinnati

The Bucs return from their bye planning to use a running back rotation consisting of as many as four players (Cadillac Williams, LeGarrette Blount, Kareem Huggins, Earnest Graham). Three-man (not four) committees have some history of success, but usually only when at least one or two members possess elite talent. No Tampa back fits that description, so frequent substitutions may do more to defeat rushing rhythm than increase productivity. Blount is the best bet for goal-line carries and a more explosive early-down option than Williams, but this is a highly unstable situation until proven otherwise. Cincinnati has an above-average run defense (4.1 YPC allowed, No. 15 overall). Expect quite a few more pass attempts than carries from the Bucs on Sunday.

The Bucs don't seem to apply logic when formulating game plans as a routine, but they'd certainly be smart to rely on Josh Freeman's arm against an injury-riddled Bengals secondary. SS Roy Williams (MCL sprain) is definitely out. LCB Johnathan Joseph is questionable, and may struggle to "jam" receivers at the line of scrimmage due to a deeply bruised forearm even if he does play. Mike Williams is typically Tampa's LWR (going against shutdown RCB Leon Hall), but the Bucs could create a favorable matchup by moving the rookie to RWR (where he did play for the majority of Week 2). It's a lot of hypotheticals to rely on for lineup purposes, but Williams should get plenty of chances regardless. His 22 targets lead the Bucs. Kellen Winslow is next in line with 16.

Cedric Benson hasn't had an especially difficult schedule (@ NE, vs. BAL, @ CAR, @ CLE), yet has bested 3.39 yards per carry once in four games (4.0 against Cleveland last week). According to Pro Football Focus, Benson didn't break a single tackle in Week 4. It's hard to imagine benching him against a Bucs run defense that ranked dead last in the league in 2009 and is 28th this year, but Benson wouldn't be a bad sell high if he turns in a serviceable game. While the Bengals' line deserves much of the blame, keep in mind that Benson was worked hard down last season's stretch. He had 37 carries in Week 7, 34 in Week 8, was injured in Week 9, and returned for workloads of 36, 29, and 21 carries in the Bengals' last five games. It may be catching up to him.

Despite last week's 371-yard, two-touchdown fluke, Carson Palmer continued to struggle. In the losing effort, he took four sacks against a Browns team that entered with four in three games, and continued to float passes in the intermediate and deep zones. If not for Terrell Owens' monster run-after-catch game and a Browns secondary clearly lacking confidence, Palmer would've been much less productive. The Bucs aren't a tough matchup (their No. 10 pass defense ranking is deceptive), but also aren't bad enough to use Palmer. We'd rather start someone like Sam Bradford, Kevin Kolb, or Eli Manning (in the aforementioned matchup). ... Bucs shutdown CB Aqib Talib is likely to take one of the Bengals' receivers out of this game, but which one remains to be seen. T.O. did leapfrog Chad Ochocinco in fantasy points last week. Owens is the No. 8 receiver. Ocho is 21.

Atlanta @ Cleveland

Peyton Hillis has been the biggest workhorse in football over the past two weeks. He ranked third in the NFL in touches in Week 3, and led the NFL with 29 in Week 4. Hillis played all but three offensive snaps last Sunday, and those missed were all game-ending kneel-downs. Without even knowing a matchup, backs used like this are impossible to bench. Hillis is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, has scored a touchdown in 4-of-4 games, and ranks fifth among all tailbacks in receptions. The Browns would be foolish to not pencil in another 25-plus touches for Hillis against a Falcons defense allowing 4.6 yards per carry. Atlanta is also hurting at the second level, with MLB Curtis Lofton (knee) and WLB Sean Weatherspoon (ankle) both missing practice reps this week.

Increasing the likelihood of a Hillis-centric approach is the anticipated return of Jake Delhomme. Though he's expected to start, Delhomme (high ankle sprain) was unable to make it through a full practice week, and injuries like his are highly susceptible to aggravation. Delhomme upgrades the deep passing game (i.e. Mohamed Massaquoi), but it should only be used as a change of pace. According to Pro Football Focus, Hillis has generated 170 of his 246 rushing yards after contact since Week 2. A Browns passing game that has Ben Watson as its leading receiver has to take a backseat to such dominance. Of course, with Eric Mangini at the controls, anything is possible.

Few secondaries have looked worse than Cleveland's over the past two weeks. Joe Flacco and Carson Palmer have struggled against most everyone else, but the Browns let them combine for 317 yards per game, 9.45 yards per attempt, five touchdowns, and a 70.15 completion rate. LCB Eric Wright's confidence appears to be shot heading into a date with Falcons RWR Roddy White, while Browns RCB Sheldon Brown was victimized for 122 yards and a TD by Terrell Owens in Week 4. Matt Ryan is a borderline top-five QB1 (I'd use him over Matt Schaub or Kyle Orton) and you won't find a more recommended WR1 than White. ... After a slow start, Tony Gonzalez has 15 receptions in his last two games. The Falcons are making an obvious effort to get him the ball.

On paper at least, Atlanta can whip Cleveland in the air. But it's not in the Falcons' nature to come out throwing, no matter the opponent. The Falcons have run the ball more than any team in the league through one month, and the second-place Jets aren't even close (37.2 rushing attempts per game compared to 32.8). Though the Browns haven't allowed a touchdown on the ground and are surrendering just 3.8 yards per carry, it's going to be another carry-filled day at the office for Michael Turner. "The Burner" is sitting on a disappointing 3.8 YPC average, but you can't bench a talented running back when he's on the hook for 20-plus carries, in addition to all work in goal-line situations.

I've dabbled with hypothesizing NFL teams' weekly approaches in this space before, but we'll go heavy on the concept this week. With a quarter of the season in the books, we can formulate a pretty good idea as to the soft spots in defenses, as well as offensive strengths. We've seen surprises -- the Panthers own a legitimately tough run defense and the Broncos have among the most pass-happy offenses in the league -- while an unflagging passing attack remains in Indianapolis and the Steelers' defense still gives up chicken feed to opposing ground games.

Let's kick it off with a matchup that Vegas projects to be the highest scoring of Week 5.

1:00PM ET Games

NY Giants @ Houston

Injuries to Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones leave Houston no choice but to take a balanced-to-run-heavy plan of attack. Kevin Walter is the team's only oft-used, healthy wideout, and just so happens to be their best run-blocking receiver. Arian Foster's brief Week 4 benching was a well-timed kick in the rear. The Texans' line really showed its dominance, meanwhile, by allowing Derrick Ward and Steve Slaton to pile up 97 rushing yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter before Foster entered. Foster has already beaten up on a strong run defense, dumping 126 total yards on Dallas' top-eight unit in Week 3. He's also the NFL rushing leader by a 126-yard margin.

Johnson (ankle) will be a true game-time decision. You can't bench the NFL's best receiver if he plays, even with a run-heavy approach likely on Houston's side. The Giants took a huge leap up the pass defense rankings (they're now No. 2) during their sack-happy Week 4 domination of Chicago, but they're not really that good. … Texans fill-in LT Rashad Butler, who served up three sacks to DeMarcus Ware two games ago, will have to receive constant "help" blocks from Owen Daniels and/or Joel Dreessen in his matchup with Osi Umenyiora. Don't look for much deep passing from the Texans. Matt Schaub will be in trouble if he has to throw 35 or more passes. He's just a low-end QB1.

The Giants-Texans over-under is 47.5. (Saints-Cardinals, at 45.5, is the second highest of Week 5). New York's old-school coaching staff typically enters games with a smash-mouth approach, but that wouldn't be a good idea this week, particularly with Ahmad Bradshaw's ankle at less than 100 percent. Houston hasn't let an opposing rusher top 55 yards, ranks second in run defense, and has the fourth fewest rushing attempts against in the league. The Texans rank dead last in pass defense and completion rate allowed (70.1), and their eight passing scores against are the third most in football. Get Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith going, and don't be shy about Mario Manningham as a WR3 in spite of his catch-less Week 4. Eli Manning is a quality bye-week QB1.

Bradshaw claims he's healthy despite missing Thursday's practice, but in-season musical chairs on the line might be a bigger roadblock in the prohibitive matchup. The Giants played them in practice this week, with Shawn Andrews installed at left tackle, LT David Diehl kicking to guard, and usual LG Rich Seubert moving to center. Both of New York's top centers (Adam Koets, Shaun O'Hara) are banged up. Bradshaw flashed matchup-proof ability in a 143-yard effort against a Bears team that entered Week 4 ranked No. 1 in run defense, so he's hard to bench. Just consider him a low-end RB2 as opposed to the RB1 he's played like. The G-Men will struggle to run the ball Sunday.

Denver @ Baltimore

Baltimore's is an especially difficult game plan to guess. The Broncos have been stout against the run (4.1 YPC, one rushing TD allowed) and susceptible to the pass (8 passing TDs against, tons of big plays allowed), but their best talent is in the secondary. Despite Denver's Week 4 stifling of Chris Johnson (64 total yards), I'd be hard pressed to bench a healthy Ray Rice, who might be the best buy-low target in all of fantasy. Willis McGahee suffered a stinger in last week's surprise appearance as Baltimore's lead back, a stint sure to be short-lived. Coordinator Cam Cameron is a longtime proponent of balanced offense, and even if he went pass heavy, Rice would be the go-to back. Rice isn't just the Ravens' best pass-catching RB. He's their top pass protector.

Week 4 might prove the turning point for Joe Flacco. He was a marksman against a Pittsburgh team playing the best defense in football. Flacco has a 4:1 TD-to-INT ratio in his last two games, with at least 256 yards in each and a 67.6 completion rate. Denver is tied for second-to-last in sacks (four in four games), so Flacco won't be sweating any pass rush. ... The Broncos use Champ Bailey to shadow No. 1 receivers, and the shutdown corner has answered the bell. No "Number One" has topped 65 yards or four catches against Denver yet. On pace for a 108-1,420-13.1-12 line, Anquan Boldin can't be benched. But expectations should be checked. ... Derrick Mason could be the beneficiary. No. 2 receivers are averaging seven catches for 84 yards with three TDs in four games against Denver. ... Todd Heap still hasn't found the end zone this season.

The Broncos lead the NFL in passing, have a banged-up running back, and play the Ravens, so their approach seems pretty cut-and-dry. Kyle Orton is averaging 44 attempts per game with at least 300 yards in three straight. Unfortunately, Baltimore leads the league in pass defense and yards allowed per throw (5.2). The Ravens have surrendered one passing score in four games. Assuming Baltimore doesn't dominate time of possession with Ray Rice (quite possible), the pass attempts will be there for Orton. It's just a matchup to avoid. ... Also avoid the Broncos' running game. Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) is practicing on a limited basis, but reporters on hand observed that he's "definitely not close" to full strength. He didn't play well before the injury, either.

UPDATE: Moreno has been ruled out. Laurence Maroney and Correll Buckhalter will share the backfield again, making Denver's backfield completely hands off for Week 5.

With Orton firing away, his receivers are trading off monster games. In Week 1 it was Brandon Lloyd (5-117), Week 2 the Age of Demaryius Thomas (8-97-1), Week 3 featured Lloyd (6-169-1) and Jabar Gaffney (12-140), and Eddie Royal emerged last Sunday for an 8-113-1 line against the Titans. ... With a difficult matchup, it's a tossup if you're trying to guess between Gaffney and Royal. Gaffney is playing more snaps, but Royal is a more dynamic talent. ... Lloyd is the NFL's second-leading receiver. He's an every-week starter until proven otherwise. ... The only Broncos wideout definitely worth benching is Thomas. The first-round pick is playing the fewest snaps by a wide margin, and caught just one pass for nine yards in Week 4. Thomas is now returning kicks.

Kansas City @ Indianapolis

The Colts lead the league in passing TDs, rank third in pass attempts, are averaging the second most passing yards per game, and have been picked off once this year. Their game plan is sure to be pass heavy beneath the friendly confines of Lucas Oil Stadium's retractable roof. And if a rejuvenated Chiefs defense is leaky anywhere, it's in the back. K.C. ranks 26th in pass defense despite having faced passing "attacks" led by Seneca Wallace and Alex Smith in two of their first three games. Kansas City's rank might fall into the 30s after this one. You're starting Peyton Manning (No. 1 fantasy QB), Dallas Clark (No. 3 TE), and Reggie Wayne (No. 2 WR) anyway.

Austin Collie's "decreased role" in Week 4 (5-39-1) resulted from Peyton picking apart the Wayne-David Jones duel opposite him. Collie drew Rashean Mathis, so Manning exploited the easier matchup. Most teams won't assign their top CB to Collie, but the Jags never did adjust. The most productive receiver in fantasy at the quarter mark, Collie isn't a good sell high. The Colts won't stop winging it, and he won't fall out of the top-ten wideouts. ... Pierre Garcon is expected to return after two missed games, but owners must wait to see something. He was a non-factor when healthy, and will come off the bench. ... Joseph Addai doesn't have a great matchup against K.C.'s No. 5 run defense, but can never be benched because he's always a threat for multiple touchdowns.

UPDATE: ESPN's John Clayton reports that Collie (foot) is unlikely to play. If Clayton's report is right, Garcon would draw the start.

Coming off a bye, the Chiefs have a league-low 42 pass attempts compared to an AFC-high 34.7 rushes per game. It's no secret that a fresh K.C. team wants to run the ball. Despite their fluky 3-0 start, there's just no way the Chiefs can keep up with the NFL's third highest-scoring offense without throwing. Jamaal Charles, of course, is the primary back when Kansas City goes to pass. His matchup bolstered by a date with an Indy club that ranks 29th in run defense, allows 5.0 yards per carry, and just lost run-stopping safety Melvin Bullitt for the season, Charles is setup to break out. Todd Haley's staff also had time over the bye to watch extensive early-season film. Charles' 8.46 yards-a-touch average compared to Thomas Jones' 4.13 couldn't have helped but stand out.

When the Chiefs are forced to pass, they'll find a familiar face in Indy's lineup. With Bullitt and Bob Sanders (tricep) out, Herm Edwards/Carl Peterson third-round pick DaJuan Morgan is the Colts' starting strong safety. A special teamer, Morgan doesn't cover or support the run well, and was released by Haley's staff early in training camp. Haley could attack Morgan with rookie TE Tony Moeaki, whose 19 targets lead the Chiefs. ... Dwayne Bowe, second on the team in targets, is Kansas City's strong-side receiver, so he'll square off with Morgan's side more often than not. Despite a slow start, Bowe is a strong WR3 after the off week. The Chiefs need to get him the ball, and they know it. ... After signing a three-year, $12 million contract in the offseason, Chris Chambers appears to have called it a career. The 32-year-old is averaging 17.7 yards per game.

Green Bay @ Washington

It's deja vu all over again, with Ryan Torain reappearing as the flavor of the week. The brittle, if ideal zone-blocking back, is receiving all kinds of kudos from his coach and avid film watcher Brian Baldinger of NFL Network. Mike Shanahan described Torain as having "a lot of upside," going so far as to call him "a top back in the National Football League." Baldinger cited Torain's "one-step quickness and vision" when predicting he'd become "Shanahan's next great find." Torain showed his muscle on a Week 4 touchdown run, lowering his shoulder to de-cleat sure-tackling Eagles SS Quintin Mikell. Torain began celebrating the score ten yards away just as gravity had pulled Mikell back down to Earth. With Clinton Portis all but done for the year with a third-degree groin tear and separation, Torain has next to no competition for carries. The Packers are surrendering an NFC-high 5.2 yards per tote, and will be without top run-stopping LB Nick Barnett (dislocated wrist).

Based on his praise of Torain, Shanahan's game plan figures to be balanced. Quietly, however, this matchup has high-scoring potential, with everyone getting a piece of the pie. LT Trent Williams' (knee, toe) return is great news for the Skins' passing attack. ... As noted by Pro Football Focus, Green Bay was incredibly vulnerable over the middle in Week 4, allowing Brandon Pettigrew and Tony Scheffler to crank out a combined 154 yards on 14 grabs. Susceptibility underneath -- only exacerbated by Barnett's loss -- is nothing new for the Packers, who gave up Greg Olsen's best game of the season (5-64-1) the week before. Chris Cooley will feast on fill-in SS Charlie Peprah with Morgan Burnett out for the year. ... Santana Moss is coming off a catch-less clunker, as McNabb needed to complete only eight passes to beat the Eagles. Expect lots more throwing Sunday. The Skins are moving Moss around enough to keep him off Charles Woodson.

The Packers are a scuffling 3-1, with Aaron Rodgers yet to truly find his rhythm. Washington's pass defense was made to look good by an ill-prepared Kevin Kolb in Week 4, but this isn't a strong unit. Rodgers also called out the coaching staff after last Sunday's near-loss to Detroit, begging for more spread formations. He's likely to get his wish, as Brandon Jackson proved in a best-case matchup with the Lions that he's incapable of being a difference-making back. Expect plenty of passing. The Redskins rank 31st in the league in pass defense and boast a mediocre-at-best pass rush. Emerging as one of the better guards in football, Packers RG Josh Sitton is capable of neutralizing Albert Haynesworth when the Redskins employ a four-man line (which they do often).

Washington has allowed a tight end to score in back-to-back games (Daniel Fells in Week 3, Brent Celek in Week 4), and Jermichael Finley is on pace for 1,204 yards on 84 receptions. This is only the beginning. ... Before Kolb's check down-filled Week 4, the Skins were among the most burnable teams in football in the deep passing game. Don't sit Packers top vertical receiver Greg Jennings, who's stayed alive with touchdowns in 3-of-4 games despite weak yardage totals. ... Donald Driver has settled in as Green Bay's primary slot receiver, and it's a great position for him at this stage of his career. He'll fade as the year progresses like last season, but you could do worse as a WR3. Driver is often open. ... Avoid Jackson and John Kuhn, who are sharing time equally. Washington surrenders a measly 3.7 yards per carry and has allowed just one 20-plus yard run in four games.

St. Louis @ Detroit

Much is being made of Sam Bradford as a fantasy fill-in for Tom Brady, Michael Vick, and Ben Roethlisberger owners. It's not a bad idea, but this is more likely to be the Steven Jackson show. Especially against a Lions team that ranks fifth in sacks, the Rams won't risk their future by letting Bradford drop back 40 times if they can help it. Detroit ranks 25th against the run, is letting up 4.8 YPC, and has yielded the third most rushing scores in the NFL. S-Jax confirmed his previously injured groin is behind him by racking up 25 touches in Week 4, and subsequently not appearing on the Rams' post-game injury list. Perhaps most promisingly, Jackson got stronger as the game went on, rushing 10 times for 28 yards in the first three quarters and 12-for-42 in the final frame.

Bradford is still a worthwhile play. His yardage totals have jumped in three straight weeks, putting him on pace for one of the greatest rookie QB seasons in history. Across the NFL, only the Jags allow more yards per pass attempt than the Lions, so Bradford doesn't require 40 throws for a big game. ... Mark Clayton is a top-nine fantasy wideout at the quarter point. His 41 targets are 10 more than the next Ram (Danny Amendola) and sixth in all of football. He's a high-end WR2 at Detroit. ... Amendola is playing 51.2 percent of St. Louis' offensive snaps. Brandon Gibson is at 87.8 percent since Week 2. Going for 50 yards and a touchdown compared to Amendola's scoreless 46 yards in Week 4, Gibson is the better sleeper if Laurent Robinson (foot) doesn't start.

Shaun Hill has racked up yards in Detroit's pass-first offense, topping 330 in 2-of-3 starts. He now faces a Rams team that hasn't allowed more than 17 points yet, with the pass defense emerging as a strength. It's allowed three passing TDs in four games, letting up just 6.8 yards per throw. Bradford and Kevin Kolb are preferable plays. ... Jahvid Best is more likely to be the game plan's focus. The Rams' glaring weakness is still on the ground (4.6 YPC, NFC-most six 20-plus yard rushes allowed). Best is also noticeably faster on turf, and the stats support it. He's averaged 7.74 yards-per on 35 touches in games at Ford Field and the Metrodome, but just 3.33 yards on 36 touches at Soldier and Lambeau Fields. Best returns to the home turf -- literally -- on Sunday.

Calvin Johnson catapulted himself to 11th in the fantasy receiver ranks with a dominant, two-TD effort against the Packers in Week 4. Megatron roasted 2009 Defensive POY Charles Woodson all over the field, and his outlook further improves with Nate Burleson (ankle) due back. Johnson will now be harder to double team. ... Holding John Carlson to one catch for 15 yards last Sunday, the Rams have been stingy against tight ends. No TE has scored on them, and only Chris Cooley has topped 50 yards (he had 53 in Week 3). Feel free to use Tony Scheffler (concussion) if he plays, but don't chase Brandon Pettigrew's fluky receptions run. Burleson's return lessens Pettigrew's passing-game role, and he'll be on the line blocking if Best is leaned on heavily, as expected.

Chicago @ Carolina

Jay Cutler's (concussion) first career missed start is a death knell for Bears skill players. 39-year-old Todd Collins will start his first game since 2007, and just his fourth in the last nine years. Behind an offensive line that surrendered 10 Week 4 sacks, Collins won't get the ball downfield to Johnny Knox. It's not a bad idea to insert Carolina's fantasy defense if you're into week-to-week streaming. Collins, a weak-armed game manager, is a statue in the pocket and egg-beater pass waiting to happen. ... Panthers top CB Chris Gamble will likely be assigned to Devin Hester for most of Sunday. Having topped 17 yards in 1-of-4 games this season and three catches once since Week 11 of 2009, Hester belongs on fantasy benches. The receiver experiment needs to end soon.

Greg Olsen is similarly struggling, having topped 39 yards once this season. Like any Martz tight end, Olsen is totally dependent on touchdowns to make fantasy noise. He won't make any with Collins at quarterback. ... Thanks to superb play from thumping MLB Dan Connor and always-awesome WLB Jon Beason, Carolina is allowing the fifth fewest yards per carry (3.3) in football. The Panthers' run defense turnaround is for real. Matt Forte has yet to top 3.0 yards per carry in a single game this year, so he'll have to catch lots of check-downs from Collins for a productive day.

The Panthers' game plan is easy to guess, because there's only one thing they do well -- run. As noted by Pro Football Focus, RT Geoff Schwartz was particularly dominant in a Week 4 game that saw DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart total 176 yards and two TDs, mauling Saints LE Alex Brown all day. Bears LE Israel Idonije has played the run better than Brown, but not by a ton. Look for Williams to be the focal point as Chicago's run defense rank continues to fall. It was No. 1 entering Week 4, and is now No. 6. ... Stewart is an awesome talent, but his 55-yard touchdown reception last Sunday was fluky, coming on a blown coverage. It was also just his third catch in four weeks. J-Stew hasn't topped 10 touches yet, and needs more work to be used with confidence.

Outside of dump-offs to Williams -- and extremely rare ones to Stewart -- the Panthers' passing game is a fantasy dump with Steve Smith (high ankle sprain) out through the Week 6 bye. Not only will the game plan be run-first, Nos. 2-4 receivers David Gettis, Brandon LaFell, and Dwayne Jarrett combined for eight targets in Week 4, generating 38 yards. Jarrett is now a free agent. ... Jimmy Clausen will get better by the week -- he didn't turn the ball over last Sunday after losing two fumbles and throwing a pick in Week 3 -- but it's a process. He's a weak bet to top 180 yards in any game going forward.

Tampa Bay @ Cincinnati

The Bucs return from their bye planning to use a running back rotation consisting of as many as four players (Cadillac Williams, LeGarrette Blount, Kareem Huggins, Earnest Graham). Three-man (not four) committees have some history of success, but usually only when at least one or two members possess elite talent. No Tampa back fits that description, so frequent substitutions may do more to defeat rushing rhythm than increase productivity. Blount is the best bet for goal-line carries and a more explosive early-down option than Williams, but this is a highly unstable situation until proven otherwise. Cincinnati has an above-average run defense (4.1 YPC allowed, No. 15 overall). Expect quite a few more pass attempts than carries from the Bucs on Sunday.

The Bucs don't seem to apply logic when formulating game plans as a routine, but they'd certainly be smart to rely on Josh Freeman's arm against an injury-riddled Bengals secondary. SS Roy Williams (MCL sprain) is definitely out. LCB Johnathan Joseph is questionable, and may struggle to "jam" receivers at the line of scrimmage due to a deeply bruised forearm even if he does play. Mike Williams is typically Tampa's LWR (going against shutdown RCB Leon Hall), but the Bucs could create a favorable matchup by moving the rookie to RWR (where he did play for the majority of Week 2). It's a lot of hypotheticals to rely on for lineup purposes, but Williams should get plenty of chances regardless. His 22 targets lead the Bucs. Kellen Winslow is next in line with 16.

Cedric Benson hasn't had an especially difficult schedule (@ NE, vs. BAL, @ CAR, @ CLE), yet has bested 3.39 yards per carry once in four games (4.0 against Cleveland last week). According to Pro Football Focus, Benson didn't break a single tackle in Week 4. It's hard to imagine benching him against a Bucs run defense that ranked dead last in the league in 2009 and is 28th this year, but Benson wouldn't be a bad sell high if he turns in a serviceable game. While the Bengals' line deserves much of the blame, keep in mind that Benson was worked hard down last season's stretch. He had 37 carries in Week 7, 34 in Week 8, was injured in Week 9, and returned for workloads of 36, 29, and 21 carries in the Bengals' last five games. It may be catching up to him.

Despite last week's 371-yard, two-touchdown fluke, Carson Palmer continued to struggle. In the losing effort, he took four sacks against a Browns team that entered with four in three games, and continued to float passes in the intermediate and deep zones. If not for Terrell Owens' monster run-after-catch game and a Browns secondary clearly lacking confidence, Palmer would've been much less productive. The Bucs aren't a tough matchup (their No. 10 pass defense ranking is deceptive), but also aren't bad enough to use Palmer. We'd rather start someone like Sam Bradford, Kevin Kolb, or Eli Manning (in the aforementioned matchup). ... Bucs shutdown CB Aqib Talib is likely to take one of the Bengals' receivers out of this game, but which one remains to be seen. T.O. did leapfrog Chad Ochocinco in fantasy points last week. Owens is the No. 8 receiver. Ocho is 21.

Atlanta @ Cleveland

Peyton Hillis has been the biggest workhorse in football over the past two weeks. He ranked third in the NFL in touches in Week 3, and led the NFL with 29 in Week 4. Hillis played all but three offensive snaps last Sunday, and those missed were all game-ending kneel-downs. Without even knowing a matchup, backs used like this are impossible to bench. Hillis is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, has scored a touchdown in 4-of-4 games, and ranks fifth among all tailbacks in receptions. The Browns would be foolish to not pencil in another 25-plus touches for Hillis against a Falcons defense allowing 4.6 yards per carry. Atlanta is also hurting at the second level, with MLB Curtis Lofton (knee) and WLB Sean Weatherspoon (ankle) both missing practice reps this week.

Increasing the likelihood of a Hillis-centric approach is the anticipated return of Jake Delhomme. Though he's expected to start, Delhomme (high ankle sprain) was unable to make it through a full practice week, and injuries like his are highly susceptible to aggravation. Delhomme upgrades the deep passing game (i.e. Mohamed Massaquoi), but it should only be used as a change of pace. According to Pro Football Focus, Hillis has generated 170 of his 246 rushing yards after contact since Week 2. A Browns passing game that has Ben Watson as its leading receiver has to take a backseat to such dominance. Of course, with Eric Mangini at the controls, anything is possible.

Few secondaries have looked worse than Cleveland's over the past two weeks. Joe Flacco and Carson Palmer have struggled against most everyone else, but the Browns let them combine for 317 yards per game, 9.45 yards per attempt, five touchdowns, and a 70.15 completion rate. LCB Eric Wright's confidence appears to be shot heading into a date with Falcons RWR Roddy White, while Browns RCB Sheldon Brown was victimized for 122 yards and a TD by Terrell Owens in Week 4. Matt Ryan is a borderline top-five QB1 (I'd use him over Matt Schaub or Kyle Orton) and you won't find a more recommended WR1 than White. ... After a slow start, Tony Gonzalez has 15 receptions in his last two games. The Falcons are making an obvious effort to get him the ball.

On paper at least, Atlanta can whip Cleveland in the air. But it's not in the Falcons' nature to come out throwing, no matter the opponent. The Falcons have run the ball more than any team in the league through one month, and the second-place Jets aren't even close (37.2 rushing attempts per game compared to 32.8). Though the Browns haven't allowed a touchdown on the ground and are surrendering just 3.8 yards per carry, it's going to be another carry-filled day at the office for Michael Turner. "The Burner" is sitting on a disappointing 3.8 YPC average, but you can't bench a talented running back when he's on the hook for 20-plus carries, in addition to all work in goal-line situations.

Jacksonville @ Buffalo

Matchups can turn a season around quickly. Maurice Jones-Drew wasn't a top-30 fantasy back entering Week 4, but got off the schneid in a 121-total yard, two-touchdown effort against the Colts' No. 29 run defense. Ranking dead last in the league against the run and having let up an NFL-high seven rushing touchdowns, the Bills are even more generous. Just keep in mind that MJD had to fight for every yard against Indianapolis behind Jacksonville's putrid interior run blocking. Unless you're 4-0 or 3-1 and already gearing up for the fantasy playoffs, watch Jones-Drew rip up Buffalo, then sell him high. He doesn't get another truly favorable matchup until Week 14 against Oakland.

Chris Wesseling pointed out in Week 5's Waiver Wired that since 2008 David Garrard has averaged a fumble per game, 55 fewer passing yards, and twice as many interceptions as touchdowns in away games than at home. Wesseling then recommended the Bills' defense as a spot play. It's good advice. There isn't a QB in football with worse (or more fantasy-reliable) splits, so don't chase Garrard's numbers from Jacksonville's Week 4 home upset of Indianapolis in this road game. ... Mike Sims-Walker appeared to play behind Tiquan Underwood against the Colts, finishing without a catch on one target. Sims-Walker and Underwood are bench material until one emerges as an every-down player. ... Mike Thomas hasn't scored on the year. He's a low-end WR3 in PPR and a WR5/6 in non-PPR. ... If you're using Marcedes Lewis, you're counting on a TD. He does nothing downfield.

The Marshawn Lynch trade moves Fred Jackson to the top of Buffalo's tailback depth chart and C.J. Spiller to No. 2. Their upsides are capped by an offense that doesn't move the ball or run block well, but now is the time to use Jackson. He won't be a better bet for touches going forward, and Jacksonville is giving up the second most rushing scores in the league. The Jaguars are running their defensive line into the ground. RE Aaron Kampman and DTs Terrance Knighton and Tyson Alualu almost never come off the field, tiring as games progress. If this keeps up, Jacksonville will be an especially favorable running-game matchup down the stretch. Alualu is a rookie, Kampman is 31 years old, and Knighton is 330 pounds after several hours in the sauna.

Even in a matchup with the Jaguars' No. 30 pass defense, the Bills' passing game just barely merits a mention in this column. Ryan Fitzpatrick, as expected, came back to earth in Week 4 after "adding a spark" in a close loss to New England the week prior. Look elsewhere if you're desperate at quarterback. Coach Chan Gailey admitted after last week's game that he considered inserting Brian Brohm. Fitzpatrick is obviously on a short leash. ... Lee Evans isn't playing well, but he at least is the Bills' receiver most worthy of a roll of the dice. Buffalo's split end, Evans will line up across from either David Jones or Derek Cox for most of Sunday's game. Jones and Cox were preyed on by Peyton Manning in Week 4, with Reggie Wayne racking up 19 targets and 15 grabs.

4:05PM ET Game

New Orleans @ Arizona

Max Hall isn't a good bet to light up the box score in his first NFL start, but he's got a quarterback-friendly situation. The Saints aren't generating turnovers at near their 2009 rate, and rank in the bottom ten in sacks. DEs Alex Brown and Will Smith have one QB takedown combined. CB Tracy Porter's torn MCL pushes into the lineup nickel back Randall Gay, who's stretched as a starter. It all adds up to an improved outlook for Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz would normally go against Porter's side. Hall, who completed over 67 percent of his passes in each of his final two years at BYU, is an immediate accuracy upgrade over Derek Anderson. Anderson's completion rate was 51.8. Hall probably won't hit Fitz on any bombs, but will provide more after-the-catch opportunities.

The Cards' intent should still be to run early and often with an undrafted rookie quarterback. They certainly have the matchup to execute. Assuming the Saints' passing offense doesn't suddenly catch fire and grab a big early lead, Arizona should be able to impose its will with the run. The Saints have allowed an unruly 672 total yards (168 per game) and six touchdowns to running backs so far. Beanie Wells' matchup couldn't be better, and even Tim Hightower is worth a look as a flex play. If the Cardinals win the toss, expect them to receive and go to work on the ground.

Speaking of bad run defense, Arizona takes the cake. Rookie ILB Daryl Washington was benched in Week 4, DE Darnell Dockett has never been a good run defender, and 33-year-old OLBs Clark Haggans and Joey Porter are washed up. Saints coach Sean Payton loves to prey on matchups after watching film, and won't struggle to eyeball the Cardinals' weakest link. Pierre Thomas (ankle) is questionable, but Payton might go run heavy anyway against the NFC's worst rush defense. Thomas is an RB1 if he plays. If he doesn't, Week 4 starter Chris Ivory (12-67 against Carolina) is a worthwhile bye-week flex in non-PPR leagues. In PPR, the same goes for Ladell Betts (13-47, four catches for 23 yards in Week 4). Ivory remains the favorite for goal-line carries.

Be it due to a run-first game plan or grasping an early lead, the Saints are unlikely to register an exorbitant number of pass attempts. That's not to call No. 7 fantasy QB Drew Brees a weak play -- he'll have all day to throw because Haggans and Porter get no pressure -- but Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson are. They've combined to top 38 yards once this year, and rely on volume for any kind of predictable fantasy production. Keep them reserved, if not on the waiver wire. ... Marques Colston is off to an awfully slow start, but a date with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could turn him around. DRC has been Arizona's weakest corner -- worse than first-year starter Greg Toler -- yet the Cardinals still use him to "shadow" opposing No. 1s. Keep Colston going. ... Jeremy Shockey has been solid in two straight weeks, but he'll be on the line blocking in this one.

4:15PM ET Games

Tennessee @ Dallas

As the winter months approach, it wouldn't be a bad idea to load up on skill players that play in domes. Coupled with the buy-low factor, Dallas' slow-starting offense is an ideal target. The Cowboys' plan to increase Felix Jones' usage bodes well for the entire unit. Throw out a seven-carry, seven-yard Week 2 effort in which Dallas was without two linemen, and Jones is averaging 6.3 yards per touch. Marion Barber is stuck at 3.36. As NFL Network's Mike Lombardi has noted, Dallas' offense simply moves with better tempo when Jones is in the game. This backfield can't be counted on yet for fantasy starts, but its evolution is in the works. During their Week 4 bye, the Cowboys' owner, coaching staff, and scouts reportedly agreed "unanimously" that Jones needs the ball more.

From a game plan standpoint, the Cowboys are still most potent when passing. They spread the field with one of the NFL's finest three-receiver sets, and Jason Witten is recovered from his pre-bye week MCL sprain. Without LCB Jason McCourty (arm), a Titans pass defense that entered Week 4 with a top-five ranking was exposed by Kyle Orton for 341 passing yards and a pair of scores. McCourty is out again, and Tony Romo is better equipped than Orton to attack secondaries. ... Roy Williams' Week 3 line of 5-117-2 stands out as an obvious fluke. He has two 100-yard games in his last 35 starts. Keep him benched. ... Miles Austin took a backseat while Williams exploited Texans rookie CB Kareem Jackson in the aforementioned game, but it'll change. Austin has 90-plus yards in seven of his last nine starts. ... Dez Bryant used the bye to heal his dinged-up ribs and hip. Without McCourty, Tennessee lacks DB depth to slow Dallas' mega-talented third receiver.

The Titans finally let Vince Young throw more than 17 passes in Week 4, and the results weren't good. V.Y. averaged a season-low 6.2 YPA as Tennessee lost for the second time in three games. The Titans' game plan unfailingly features Chris Johnson, but Kenny Britt has the potential to emerge as a No. 2 playmaker. Beginning at the start of the second quarter last week, Young directed three of his first four passes at the 2009 first-round pick, and ultimately a game-high seven. Britt scored for the second time in as many weeks. Britt is expected to start Sunday regardless of Justin Gage's (hamstring) status against a middling Dallas pass defense. The Cowboys are surrendering 7.4 yards per pass attempt and have given up four passing TDs in three games.

Nate Washington will take a backseat with Britt now an every-down player. Since scoring TDs in Weeks 1 and 2, Washington hasn't topped 42 yards. V.Y. simply prefers throwing to Britt. ... The Cowboys have played three games, and haven't allowed a rushing touchdown in any of them. They're letting up 3.9 yards per carry. This isn't a favorable matchup for Chris Johnson, but there's just no way you can put his talent on the bench. A 60-yard touchdown run is immediately 12 fantasy points, and there's no better bet in the league for 60-yard rushing scores than CJ2K. The Titans have too many good offensive linemen and too skilled a line coach (Mike Munchak) for the run-blocking woes to continue. Britt's insertion also should give the entire offense a shot in the arm.

San Diego @ Oakland

Road games can be unpredictable, but there's a blueprint to destroy the Raiders: You gash them on the ground. No team has given up more yards per carry or 20-plus yard runs, and Oakland will be even worse off without run-stopping DT John Henderson (stress fracture) and WLB Quentin Groves (hamstring). Chargers coach Norv Turner stated following last week's win that he's "committed" to Ryan Mathews as his starter. The rookie will resume his role as San Diego's lead horse, but Mike Tolbert is still well worth a flex play because of the matchup. The Chargers could probably run on every single snap and win the game. Tolbert's performance (5.5 YPC) has earned him at least 8-10 weekly touches in games against respectable run defenses. He should flirt with 14-16 in this one.

While Legedu Naanee has settled in as a Michael Jenkins-style run-blocking wideout, Malcom Floyd presents more risk this week. San Diego's split end, Floyd plays the vast majority of his snaps on the offensive left side -- where he'll be across from Raiders RCB Nnamdi Asomugha. The idea has been floated that Asomugha might be assigned to Antonio Gates, but there's very little history of Oakland making such a move. Safely start Gates, but Floyd is a low-end WR3 coming off a scoreless two-catch, 45-yard game. ... The Raiders rank No. 3 against the pass, in part because they're dead last in passing attempts against. Philip Rivers might not throw 30 times, but you can't sit the No. 2 fantasy QB. Only Peyton Manning has been more productive at the position.

Darrius Heyward-Bey (groin) and Louis Murphy (clavicle) are practicing fully, but this is a matchup ripe for Zach Miller to pick. Annually one of the NFL's poorest teams in tight end coverage, the Bolts are now without SS Steve Gregory due to a four-game PEDs suspension. Miller, coming off an 11-catch, 122-yard decimation of the Texans, is meeting expectations as this year's breakout tight end. He's No. 4 in fantasy points at the position. ... Murphy wasn't 100 percent in Week 4, catching one pass for five yards and afterwards telling reporters that he aggravated the injury. It's a bruised collarbone. Set to face Bolts LCB Quentin Jammer, this isn't the week to use Murphy.

Heyward-Bey (one catch, two yards) also turned in a clunker against Houston. Such a raw player with unreliable hands needs to prove consistent before he's used in fantasy. ... Darren McFadden (hamstring) is not expected to play, setting up Michael Bush for a potentially monster workload. Though the Chargers are playing tough run defense (No. 7 overall, 3.8 YPC), Bush could flirt with 30 touches if Oakland stays competitive in time of possession. There isn't another ball-carrying option on the roster. Consider Bush a mid-range RB2. He was more effective than McFadden on the ground in Week 4, averaging 5.7 YPC and vulturing a goal-line score. "D-Mac" managed just 3.91.

Sunday Night Football

Philadelphia @ San Francisco

Kevin Kolb has played roughly 80 snaps this year. The first portion of them came in a Week 1 game dominated by NFL sacks leader Clay Matthews. Kolb wasn't prepared for the second, a check down-filled relief effort resulting in 12 catches for LeSean McCoy but a combined 34 yards for DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. There's a lot to be said for taking a full week of first-team reps and preparing to start, and working in Kolb's favor will be a pass-heavy game plan with Mike Bell expected to replace McCoy (fractured rib). The Eagles showed no hesitancy to let Kolb wing it in two 2009 spot starts, as he averaged 42.5 pass attempts for a whopping 359 yards and accounted for five touchdowns (one rushing). The 49ers own the No. 20 pass defense and have allowed eight passing scores in four games. Kolb is a recommended desperation QB1.

ESPN's Adam Schefter hinted on Friday's SportsCenter that McCoy has a chance to play, but that the Eagles plan to use Bell in an expanded role. Avoid the situation. Bell's ineffective preseason has carried over to real games, generating 20 yards on 12 carries. He was a healthy scratch in Week 4. He's not a good player and doesn't have a good matchup. .... Combined Eagles production in Kolb's 2009 spot starts: Brent Celek: 20 targets, 16-208-1; DeSean Jackson: 19 targets, 10-250-2; Jason Avant: 12 targets, 9-93-1; Jeremy Maclin: 7 targets, 3-21. ... Keep in mind that Maclin was still playing behind Kevin Curtis at this time. ... Do NOT bench Jackson. ... Celek gets the biggest bump in value. He caught Kolb's lone touchdown pass last week.

New playcaller Mike Johnson's offense differed little from displaced OC Jimmy Raye's, at least in Johnson's first game at the helm. Frank Gore remained the game plan's centerpiece, leading the Niners in receiving and rushing and playing 58-of-59 snaps. It's scary to think what he's capable of against an Eagles rush defense that surrendered 156 total yards and a score to a pedestrian-at-best Redskins RB corps in Week 4. Philly is 27th against the run. ... Bad news/good news for Alex Smith/Vernon Davis: Smith "led" the Niners into Atlanta's red zone just once last Sunday, and aside from Gore, Davis was the only player targeted inside the opposing 20. Davis executed with a 12-yard touchdown reception. Davis has one drop all season and is an every-week starter.

Though it won't be to the same extent, the multi-week loss of No. 2 TE Delanie Walker (high ankle sprain) could have a Kevin Faulk-like ripple effect on the 49ers' offense. Walker is a staple in San Francisco's oft-used two-tight end sets, so Johnson (who has extensive background in the spread offense) could turn to three-receiver formations instead. Michael Crabtree moves into the slot in such packages, and becomes significantly harder to double team. The slow-starting breakout candidate did show signs of life last week, hauling in a season-high five balls for 58 yards. The press coverage-happy Eagles are more likely to stick eight in the box than double up on Crabtree anyway. Tentatively expect a breakout game. It isn't like Crabtree has suddenly lost talent.

UPDATE: The Eagles have ruled out LCB Asante Samuel (concussion), increasing Crabtree's chances of enjoying his first truly big game.

Monday Night Football

Minnesota @ NY Jets

Randy Moss' true impact remains to be seen, but he makes Minnesota exponentially better on paper. "Three-wides" improve from Percy Harvin-Bernard Berrian-Greg Camarillo to Moss-Harvin-Berrian, and Moss' double teams make Adrian Peterson even more dangerous. Moss can't fix A.P.'s run blocking, but he definitely can take eight out of the box more consistently. Though the Jets' run defense is one of the league's best, they've got a lot more to game plan for than expected at the start of the week. On the Vikings' side, Peterson is the best bet for a big game. ... Moss is expected to face off with arch-nemesis Darrelle Revis, but indications in New York are that Revis' hamstring still isn't fully healed. Brett Favre will target Moss relentlessly regardless of Revis' availability, so you've got to play the Mossman. He'll start in his Vikings debut.

The Vikings will likely ultimately use Harvin (flanker) and Moss (split end) as their two every-down receivers. Berrian can be dropped in 12-team leagues. He can't play, and Favre knows it. ... Harvin, still primarily a slot receiver, will square off with Kyle Wilson. Wilson is shaping up as the biggest liability in New York's secondary, and Harvin should feast on the rookie. Outside of Berrian and perhaps Visanthe Shiancoe, there's not a Viking worth sitting Monday night. ... Again, time will tell as to Moss' impact, particularly with regard to Favre. Some observers have speculated that Favre has lost arm strength. Moss, at 75 percent of his 2007 self, makes any quarterback better. With Jay Cutler and Michael Vick injured, and Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady on byes, you'd be hard pressed to find 12 better quarterback plays. Favre is a QB1.

Box score watchers might notice Shonn Greene's 22 carries compared to LaDainian Tomlinson's 19 in Week 4, and suspect Greene has retaken his starting job. Not so. L.T. was the primary back until New York grabbed a monster lead, even replacing Greene at the goal line after a near-touchdown run. Tomlinson remains the significantly better fantasy option. Unless he's playing a horrible run defense like the Bills', Greene won't be more than a weak flex until L.T. gets hurt or declines. The Vikings rank ninth in run defense, allow the seventh lowest YPC in football, and have let up one rushing score on the year. Greene is barely usable. Tomlinson is a low-end RB2.

Like the Vikings, the Jets get a talent injection in the form of Santonio Holmes, who returns from four-game suspension. We don't know what position Holmes will play (he has history at both split end and flanker), so trying to guess whether he'll line up against Antoine Winfield, Cedric Griffin, or Asher Allen would be irresponsible. Though the Jets may struggle to move the ball on the ground and therefore need to rely on the pass, it's probably a week to wait on Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. Holmes is likely to immediately assume the Jets' target lead among wideouts. ... Dustin Keller is currently the No. 2 fantasy tight end. Holmes is an intermediate-to-deep threat, while Keller does most of his work in the underneath-to-intermediate area. Holmes' addition may cost Keller 1-2 targets a week, but certainly not enough to halt his breakout season.